The NFC East title will reach Week 17 of the 2020 NFL season.
The Washington Football Team (6-9) had a chance to take the division crown when they hosted the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, but quarterback Dwayne Haskins was not at his best. He shot for 154 yards, had three total turnovers, including two interceptions, and was suspended in the team’s 20-13 defeat.
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Since Washington failed to capitalize, it left the door open for the Dallas Cowboys (6-9) and the New York Giants (5-10) to potentially sneak into the NFC playoffs. The Cowboys were led by quarterback Andy Dalton, who shot 377 yards and three touchdowns, and wide receiver Michael Gallup collected six receptions for 121 yards and two goals in Dallas’s 37-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. With the defeat, the Eagles were officially eliminated from the playoffs.
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The Giants, on the other hand, did not achieve much in the game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Quarterback Daniel Jones had 252 passing yards with a score and wide receiver Sterling Shepard had nine receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown, but Lamar Jackson and company were too much to overcome in a 27-13 win over the Giants.
With all that said, Washington, Dallas and New York still have a chance to beat NFC East. Here is a breakdown of what needs to happen so that each team has a chance to advance to the playoffs:
FOOTBALL TEAM WASHINGTON (6-9)
The defensive side of the Carolina Panthers Marquis Haynes (98) gets his hand on the ball when Washington Football Team quarterback Dwayne Haskins (7) passes during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, December 27, 2020, in Landover, Maryland (AP Photo / Carolyn Kaster)
In Week 17, Washington will face the already eliminated Eagles in Philadelphia.
It is unclear whether quarterback Alex Smith will resume his role as the team’s starter or not, but if he does, it will give Washington a big boost in attack in a game that it should win. For Washington it is simple: if they win, they are the champions of NFC East.
WASHINGTON BEATEN BY PANTERS, NFC EAST CLINCH FAILURE
When these teams clashed in week 1, Washington’s defense dismissed Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz eight times, and they recovered from a 17-point handicap to win a 27-17 victory over Philadelphia.
Defensive Novice contender of the year, Chase Young, and company will try to wreak havoc on Philadelphia’s new quarterback, Jalen Hurts, and the rest of the Eagles’ attack.
DALLAS COWBOYS (6-9)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) and wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) celebrate a touchdown received by Lamb in the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, 27 December 2020. (AP Photo / Ron Jenkins)
The Dallas Cowboys are calmly on a three-game winning streak, and they will try to continue beating the New York Giants next Sunday.
The last time the Cowboys and Giants clashed, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott injured his ankle and was lost for the season. It looked like the Cowboys’ season would be over, but they managed to recover after Andy Dalton, and are now in a position to beat NFC East.
COWBOYS HIT EAGLES 37-17, STAYING ALIVE WITH WASHINGTON LOSS
In week 5, Dallas beat the Giants 37-34. Running back Ezekiel Elliott had 19 loads for 91 yards and two scores, and rookie CeeDee Lamb had eight receptions for 124 yards for the Cowboys.
In Week 17, the Cowboys must win and need help from the Eagles to claim the division title. If Dallas comes with a victory over the Giants, and if the Eagles manage to defeat the leader of the Washington division, Dallas will host a game in the NFC playoffs.
NEW YORK GIANT (5-10)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) passing the ball in the first half of an NFL football game between the Washington Football Team, Sunday, November 8, 2020, in Landover, Maryland (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky)
New York’s two regular season wins over Washington will come in handy if it defeats the Cowboys in Week 17 and if Washington falls for the Eagles.
The Giants had their first win of the season when they scored a 20-19 win over Washington in Week 6. Daniel Jones had a 112 yard pass and a touchdown and added 74 yards on the ground in the win.
In his second meeting, three weeks later, kicker Graham Gano kicked three field goals, running back Wayne Gallman had 68 yards and a score, and Jones launched a 16-yard touchdown for tight end Evan Engram in a 23- 20 about Washington.
TORRID RAVENS, JUMP ON THE GIANT, ROLL FOR EASY 27-13 VICTORY
As the Giants won the series of the season with their NFC East rivals, a victory and defeat in Washington would put “Big Blue” in the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
It will be interesting to see how the NFC East playoff race unfolds. The last time an NFC East team won the division in consecutive seasons was when the Eagles won four consecutive years from 2001 to 2004. Philadelphia ended with a 9-7 record last year and won the division title, which it means that there will be a new division winner.